50% of British Business Leaders in the Dark on Environmental Legislation
TFM Networks survey of over 250 senior managers reveals UK businesses are unprepared for environmental requirements and rising fuel costs
[UKPRwire, Thu Aug 28 2008] Britain’s business leaders remain in the dark about environmental requirements according to new research, with half admitting that they don’t understand the likely impact of Government legislation on their businesses, nor how they should be dealing with their carbon footprint.
The results of the TFM Networks survey of over 250 UK senior manager and CEOs also revealed that 50% of businesses do not have the skills to manage future environmental legislative requirements. More worryingly, 50% of respondents also said that they did not consider recycling business equipment as an issue for them.
With nearly 70% concerned with the current rise in oil prices, decision makers are claiming that the biggest impact to business is the cost of travel (57%). Yet only 51% of businesses surveyed have addressed the issue by developing strategies and working practices to minimise their carbon footprint and exposure to rising energy costs.
71% of businesses believe that technology will play the most important role in addressing environmental and fuel concerns, with flexible working, online work tools and voice conferencing cited as the top three ways in which to cut fuel costs. However under 30% of the sample group said they are increasing the use of technology.
According to Stewart Yates, managing director at TFM Networks: “We clearly have a long way to go. What is lacking is that businesses are failing to investigate the wider opportunities that legislation presents. It’s not all doom and gloom, companies can work smarter but only if they know what they are dealing with and what to look for.
“Technology represents one important way in which businesses can effectively reduce their carbon footprint, their overheads and their exposure to rising fuel prices. Simple steps such as IP-based video conferencing and flexible working can reduce fuel expenditure and also improve overall efficiency by removing the need for unnecessary travel.”
The connection between business infrastructure and Government demands for organisations to lower their carbon footprint and become more environmentally sustainable may not be immediately evident, advises Yates.
“ICT equipment can have a high carbon footprint, and so looking at the overall lifecycle of your business infrastructure is as important as designing effective travel policies. The problem is that companies tend to make decisions based on immediate costs that they can measure today – what’s needed instead is to adopt a longer-term view, taking into consideration economic, social and environmental responsibilities from the initial design stage through to the management and eventual sustainable removal of the ICT infrastructure.”
The survey assessing the business impact of increased fuel costs and environmental legislation on British business was conducted by OmNow™ mobile omnibus for virtual network operator TFM Networks, polling the views and opinions of 258 senior business managers, comprised of 115 CEO/Managing Directors and 135 senior managers. This typically hard to reach group was receptive to the simple, fast and convenient nature of mobile phone research.
